Swengali: Redskins Look Average Again
THE WASHINGTON REDSKINS are a better team than they were a year ago. Of this I am certain.
Just look at the defense, which is loaded with far better talent and a newfound attitude that will translate on the field.
There are more questions about the offense, namely how Jason Campbell will perform at quarterback and how well the offensive line will jell after not playing together in the preseason.
Yet health will determine the outcome of the season more than anything. And, sadly, for Redskins fans, Washington has less depth than most teams. If Santana Moss or Chris Samuels goes down for the year, that might be the season.
The Redskins will finish anywhere up to 10-6. Then again, 6-10 is just as foreseeable.
To settle this, let’s just peruse the schedule to guess just where the Redskins will fall in 2007.
Outside divisional play, games at Green Bay, New England and the New York Jets seem like losses. Add a home game against Chicago to that list for a fourth loss.
After that, a bunch of games can go either way. We’ll pencil in an upset loss, too, and a road defeat at an underrated Minnesota.
Six losses and we head to the NFC East championship. No team coached by Wade Phillips sweeps Joe Gibbs‘ group, so we’ll call a split with Dallas. The New York Giants just stink and are prime material for two wins. The season comes down to Philadelphia, which is superior to Washington and will likely take both games.
There you have it: a 7-9 season. But, hey, at least the Redskins will start with a win over the Dolphins on Sunday.
Photo by Preston Keres/The Washington Post
